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Taibat Lawanson is Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Lagos, where she leads the Pro-Poor Development research cluster, and serves as Co-director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development. She holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Over the last twenty years, she has taught courses and conducted research on u rban planning, urban management, pro-poor development and governance and is well published in these areas. Her research focuses on the interface of social complexities, urban realities and the quest for environmental justice. She is well known for her inter-sectoral work which engages students, policy makers, local communities and civil society actors. She is particularly interested in how formal and informal urban systems synthesize in emerging African contexts. She is a member of the board of directors of Lagos Studies Association, an alumna of the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Centre and a pioneer World Social Science Fellow of the International (Social) Science Council. She also served as a member of the International Advisory committee of the UNHABITAT flagship ‘State of the World’s Cities Report 2020’.
Different slums exhibit different levels of resilience against the threat of eviction. However, little is known about the role of the social capital of the slum community in this context. This study investigates the factors contributing to slum resilience in the Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria, through a social capital lens. This study first investigates land allocation in slums, then the available social capital, and subsequently how this capital influences resilience to the threat of eviction in slums. Data were collected in two slum communities, in Lagos, through in-depth interviews and focus groups discussion. This study shows that land allocation is done by the traditional heads, contrarily to the mandate of the Nigeria Land Use Act of 1978. Furthermore, there is a form of structural social capital through the presence of government registered community development associations in the slums; however, their activities, decision-making process and the perception of the residents’ towards their respective associations, differs. This led to differences in trust, social cohesion and bonding ties among residents of the slum, thereby influencing resilience to the threat of eviction in slums. Since community group associations, through the appointed executives, drive the efficient utilization of social capital in slums, this study therefore recommends their restructuring in order to support a sustainable solution to the threat of eviction in slums in Lagos.
Olabisi Obaitor; Taibat Lawanson; Marion Stellmes; Tobia Lakes. Social Capital: Higher Resilience in Slums in the Lagos Metropolis. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3879 .
AMA StyleOlabisi Obaitor, Taibat Lawanson, Marion Stellmes, Tobia Lakes. Social Capital: Higher Resilience in Slums in the Lagos Metropolis. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (7):3879.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOlabisi Obaitor; Taibat Lawanson; Marion Stellmes; Tobia Lakes. 2021. "Social Capital: Higher Resilience in Slums in the Lagos Metropolis." Sustainability 13, no. 7: 3879.
This chapter argues that at the core of the opportunity to deliver sustainable urban development in Nigeria is the lack of capacity to mainstream global goals at the municipal level. The chapter thus address the following questions: Who is responsible for local implementation of the global development agenda? What mechanisms should be in place for local implementation? How can local capacities be strengthened for effective delivery of sustainable urban development? In doing this, we critically assess the challenges of localising the global agenda by focusing on SDG11 and its application in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. A content analysis of SDG11 and the Lagos State Development Plan reveals major gaps in the development approach of the state, while other findings reveal that paucity of data, weak institutional capacity as well as poor governance strategies are major impediments to mainstreaming SDG11 in Lagos. The chapter concludes by recommending some approaches to conciliate the global agenda with local exigencies, such as local capacity building and inclusive development.
Taibat Lawanson; Basirat Oyalowo; Timothy Nubi. Global Goal, Local Context: Pathways to Sustainable Urban Development in Lagos, Nigeria. E-Democracy for Smart Cities 2021, 13 -35.
AMA StyleTaibat Lawanson, Basirat Oyalowo, Timothy Nubi. Global Goal, Local Context: Pathways to Sustainable Urban Development in Lagos, Nigeria. E-Democracy for Smart Cities. 2021; ():13-35.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTaibat Lawanson; Basirat Oyalowo; Timothy Nubi. 2021. "Global Goal, Local Context: Pathways to Sustainable Urban Development in Lagos, Nigeria." E-Democracy for Smart Cities , no. : 13-35.
We highlight aspects of the ordinary – known interactions between urban environments and physical activity – that are amplified by the extraordinary – the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria. Leisure physical activity is shaped by local contexts, and pandemic-related changes may have altered existing trade-offs between the benefits and risks of undertaking Leisure physical activity in the city. We note the dynamic and inequitable ways that urban spaces are used during the pandemic and the urgent need for local evidence and solutions. Our reflections in this commentary illustrate the possibility of rethinking urban development and the reforms necessary to address health inequalities post-pandemic.
Taibat Lawanson; Louise Foley; Felix Assah; Ebele Mogo; Clarisse Mapa-Tassou; Toluwalope Ogunro; Victor Onifade; Tolu Oni. The urban environment and leisure physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a view from Lagos. Cities & Health 2020, 1 -4.
AMA StyleTaibat Lawanson, Louise Foley, Felix Assah, Ebele Mogo, Clarisse Mapa-Tassou, Toluwalope Ogunro, Victor Onifade, Tolu Oni. The urban environment and leisure physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a view from Lagos. Cities & Health. 2020; ():1-4.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTaibat Lawanson; Louise Foley; Felix Assah; Ebele Mogo; Clarisse Mapa-Tassou; Toluwalope Ogunro; Victor Onifade; Tolu Oni. 2020. "The urban environment and leisure physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a view from Lagos." Cities & Health , no. : 1-4.
The imperfections associated with housing markets have often been the basis for government intervention policies. The purpose of this article is to show the need for governmental responsiveness regarding local realities in structuring policies in specific sectors of the housing market. It shows how government intervention contributes to housing supply and the consequences of this in developed and developing countries. Conversely, it also explores how government intervention in co-operative societies has been utilised in various countries to address housing supply inelasticity, the outcome of this, and lessons that can be learnt. This study takes the form of a literature review and a quantitative survey of co-operative societies in Lagos, Nigeria. Its analysis is based on multivariate techniques. The quantitative survey is utilised to show a specific case of government inactivity in the co-operative housing sector, while the literature review is utilised to showcase government intervention in co-operative housing in four countries. The study argues that while government interventions (by way of planning regulations) often leads to house-price increases and unaffordability in developed countries, it has contributed to the emergence of informal settlements in several African cities.Additionally, while co-operative societies have been historically recognised to reduce inelasticity, improve supply and affordability in developed countries, they have yet to be recognised and supported in African cities like Lagos. It is concluded that while housing affordability is a dilemma that faces both developed and African countries, informality arises as a uniquely developing country response to unaffordability. It is recommended that, learning from history, African governments should recognise and integrate co-operative societies into their housing supply system. Furthermore, governments should implement appropriate policies to guide their activities towards reducing supply inelasticity, increasing affordability and the reduction of ever-expanding informal communities.
Basirat Ashabi Oyalowo; Timothy Nubi; Taibat Olaitan Lawanson. Housing Affordability, Government Intervention and Housing Informality: An African Dilemma? JOURNAL OF AFRICAN REAL ESTATE RESEARCH 2018, 3, 63 -86.
AMA StyleBasirat Ashabi Oyalowo, Timothy Nubi, Taibat Olaitan Lawanson. Housing Affordability, Government Intervention and Housing Informality: An African Dilemma? JOURNAL OF AFRICAN REAL ESTATE RESEARCH. 2018; 3 (2):63-86.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBasirat Ashabi Oyalowo; Timothy Nubi; Taibat Olaitan Lawanson. 2018. "Housing Affordability, Government Intervention and Housing Informality: An African Dilemma?" JOURNAL OF AFRICAN REAL ESTATE RESEARCH 3, no. 2: 63-86.
Taibat Lawanson; Muyiwa Agunbiade. Land governance and megacity projects in Lagos, Nigeria: the case of Lekki Free Trade Zone. Area Development and Policy 2017, 3, 114 -131.
AMA StyleTaibat Lawanson, Muyiwa Agunbiade. Land governance and megacity projects in Lagos, Nigeria: the case of Lekki Free Trade Zone. Area Development and Policy. 2017; 3 (1):114-131.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTaibat Lawanson; Muyiwa Agunbiade. 2017. "Land governance and megacity projects in Lagos, Nigeria: the case of Lekki Free Trade Zone." Area Development and Policy 3, no. 1: 114-131.
Taibat Lawanson. Potentials of the urban poor in shaping a sustainable lagos metropolis. Potentials of the urban poor in shaping a sustainable lagos metropolis 2016, 1 .
AMA StyleTaibat Lawanson. Potentials of the urban poor in shaping a sustainable lagos metropolis. Potentials of the urban poor in shaping a sustainable lagos metropolis. 2016; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTaibat Lawanson. 2016. "Potentials of the urban poor in shaping a sustainable lagos metropolis." Potentials of the urban poor in shaping a sustainable lagos metropolis , no. : 1.
Taibat Lawanson; Samson Fadare. Environment and health disparities in urban communities: Focus on Eti Osa, Nigeria. City, Culture and Society 2015, 6, 43 -52.
AMA StyleTaibat Lawanson, Samson Fadare. Environment and health disparities in urban communities: Focus on Eti Osa, Nigeria. City, Culture and Society. 2015; 6 (1):43-52.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTaibat Lawanson; Samson Fadare. 2015. "Environment and health disparities in urban communities: Focus on Eti Osa, Nigeria." City, Culture and Society 6, no. 1: 43-52.
This paper considers the vulnerabilities experienced in making a living as a street trader in Lagos, Nigeria. Using the Tejuosho - Yaba - Ojuelegba - Barracks quadrant as a case study, the paper investigates the socio-economic profile of street traders, their basic survival strategies and goes further to examine the interface between street vendors and related urban stakeholders. Relying on both qualitative (informed participant interviews) and quantitative (survey by purposive sampling) data analysis, the study revealed that most of the respondents were aged between 16 and 35 years old and operated subsistence enterprises which were begun due to unemployment and the high cost of the renting stalls at the nearby Yaba market. The major challenge experienced was the institutionalized harassment by KAI officials, which aided extortion by other local stakeholders. The paper concludes by highlighting the potentials of the informal economic sector and the strategic role it plays in the emerging African city form.
Taibat Lawanson. ILLEGAL URBAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP? THE CASE OF STREET VENDORS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA. Journal of Architecture&ENVIRONMENT 2014, 13, 45 .
AMA StyleTaibat Lawanson. ILLEGAL URBAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP? THE CASE OF STREET VENDORS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA. Journal of Architecture&ENVIRONMENT. 2014; 13 (1):45.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTaibat Lawanson. 2014. "ILLEGAL URBAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP? THE CASE OF STREET VENDORS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA." Journal of Architecture&ENVIRONMENT 13, no. 1: 45.
Oluwafemi Olajide; Taibat Lawanson. Climate change and livelihood vulnerabilities of low-income coastal communities in Lagos, Nigeria. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development 2014, 6, 42 -51.
AMA StyleOluwafemi Olajide, Taibat Lawanson. Climate change and livelihood vulnerabilities of low-income coastal communities in Lagos, Nigeria. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development. 2014; 6 (1):42-51.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOluwafemi Olajide; Taibat Lawanson. 2014. "Climate change and livelihood vulnerabilities of low-income coastal communities in Lagos, Nigeria." International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development 6, no. 1: 42-51.
Taibat Lawanson; Samson Fadare. Neighbourhood differentials and environmental health interface in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. Habitat International 2013, 39, 240 -245.
AMA StyleTaibat Lawanson, Samson Fadare. Neighbourhood differentials and environmental health interface in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. Habitat International. 2013; 39 ():240-245.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTaibat Lawanson; Samson Fadare. 2013. "Neighbourhood differentials and environmental health interface in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria." Habitat International 39, no. : 240-245.